Sioux Falls is taking its quest to host NCAA championships to another level, this week submitting a bid package for early-round games in the Division I men's basketball tournament for 2017 and 2018.

Underwritten by the Sioux Falls Sports Authority, the city last year put itself in the running to host 19 championships in a variety of sports from 2015-18. It struck out on the D-I front, but landed eight D-II finals in men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling and outdoor track and field.

The NCAA this time around changed the requirements for hosting the men's basketball tournament. The minimum venue capacity was dropped to 10,000 – that put the nearly completed Denny Sanford Premier Center in play.

Also, Sioux Falls now has five Class A hotels, the number required by the NCAA. That wasn't the case a year ago.

Bids were due Wednesday. Selections will be announced in November. Sioux Falls is vying to host games in the First Four and Rounds 2 and 3 of the 68-team event.

"I think we have a pretty good shot at it," said Sioux Falls banker and Sports Authority board member Dana Dykhouse. "Because if you look at the Summit League tournament, it's one of the most successful mid-major tournaments in the nation. (The NCAA) sees that and that catches people's eyes."

Of course, it took a bit of convincing to land the event initially. This Big Dance bid could be part of a longer process to sell the NCAA on Sioux Falls as a high-level host.

"I think it helps that we have all those Division II championships coming to town," Dykhouse said. "I know when I met with those (NCAA) folks when they were here (last year), they were a little skeptical at first. They left with the exact opposite opinion."